Viscoscometer.



c. 0. LORENZ VISCOSCOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23, I913- .1.1s7,0 00. Patented June 13, 1916.

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WITNESSES: INI/ENTOR c. 0. LORENZ. VISCOSCQMETER. APPLICATION FILEDAUG-23. 1913.

1,187,000. Patented June 13, 1916.

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VISCOSCOMETER.

women FILED AUG-23, 1913. J

Patented June 13, 1916.

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C- 01 VISCOSCOMETER. APPLICATION FILED 'AUG- 23 1913.

Pat nted June 13, 1916.

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IN l/E N TOR WITNESSES: 1

C. O. LORENZ.

VISCOSCOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-23. 1913.

Patented June 13, 1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES 0. LORENZ, OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS.

VISCOSCOMETER.

Application filed August 23, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES O. LORENZ, a citizen of the United States,residing at Port Arthur, in the county of Jefferson and State of Texas,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Viscoscometers,- ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in viscoscometers.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed by means of which the relative viscosity of different liquids,particularly oils, may be accurately determined.

In the process of refining oils, it is necessary to maintain aparticular standard of viscosity in accordance with the purpose forwhich the oil is to be used and it is the object of this invention toprovide a device of the character described, whereby this standard maybe determined and maintained.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of meanswhereby the oil being tested may be kept at a uniform temperature whichcondition is essential to the accurate testing of the viscosity of thefluid.

A further feature is the provision of means whereby the oil being testedmay be automatically kept at a uniform temperature.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the provision of adevice of this character, and for the purpose stated, which may becheaply and easily constructed, which will effectively accomplish theobject for which it is intended and which will not be liable to get outof order and which also comprehends means for indicating any decidedrise in the temperature of the fluid.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particularrelation to certain novel features of construction, opera tion andarrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specificationand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a planview of the device. Figs. 2, 3 and t show side elevations thereof, asviewed from different sides. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevationthereof. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a relay and contact maker used inconnection with the device. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a motor usedin connection therewith. Figs. 8 and 9 show, respectively, sideelevations of two forms of Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jne 13, 1916 Serial No. 786,224.

contact makers used in connection therewith. Fig. 10 shows a plan viewof the electrical wiring for one form of the device employing a directcurrent. Fig. 11 is a plan view of the electrical wiring for anotherform of the device wherein an alternating current is employed. Fig. 12is a diagram of another form of wiring.

teferring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals ofreference designate similar parts in each of the figures, in Figs. 1 to5 inclusive, is shown a chamber which may be in the form of a tank 1,preferably made of copper or some other suitable material and surroundedon the sides and bottom by an asbestos packing 2, held in place by awooden box or covering 3. The tank is entirely inclosed, forming achamber for a heating fluid, which should preferably be a light oil.

A plurality of receptacles preferably in the form of cups or tubes 4.are fixed in the tank and extend preferably from top to bottom throughthe chamber inclosed therein. These tubes are open at the top for thereception of the liquid to be tested and have reduced necks 5 at theirbottoms having outlet passageways through which the fluid passes,apertures being provided in the bottom of the wooden box surrounding thetank through which the necks 5 protrude.

The joints between the cups or tubes i and the bottom and top of thetank 1 are made proof against fluid passage so as to prevent the escapeof the fluid from within the chamber of the tank 1. The tubes a willthus be surrounded by the fluid, preferably oil, with which the tank 1is filled and the temperature of the oil within the chamber willregulate the temperature of the oil within the tubes.

Oil of the desired viscosity is placed in one of said cups or tubes andthe oil to be tested is placed in another or others of said tubes and itis essential that the oil in the tank 1 surrounding the tubes should bekept at a uniform temperature, as the relative amount of the oilsdischarged through the reduced necks 5 from the tubes determines therelative viscosity of the oils placed in the tubes.

It is apparent that if a greater or less amount of the oil being testedis discharged than there is of the oil having the desired viscosity,then the oil being tested is not of the desired viscosity. As it isnecessary,

however, in making an accurate test to maintain a uniform temperature ofthe oils, a mechanism has been provided for the purpose, which will nowbe described: Arranged within the tank 1 are heating coils (S, 6,preferably extending around the walls thereot, said coils being formedof conducting wires wound on suitable supporting rods made preferably offiber or some other nonconducting material, the coils of each seriesbeing connected.

The numerals 7, T (see Fig. 10) refer to current-m nducting wires whichlead from batteries or other source of electrical supply (not shown),and are connected to the binding posts 8, S. from which lead thecurrentconducting wires 9, 9, which in turn may be connected with theheating coils 6, 6, so as to conduct an electric current therethrough toheat the same, as will hereinafter be set forth. Fixed upon the tank 1is a contact maker, as shown in detail in Figs. 8, 10 and 11, consistingpreferably of a plate 10 secured to said tank, the upright post 11 fixedto said plate, the lever 12 pivoted at one end to the top of said postand the contact points 13 and 1-1, the former of which extends throughthe free end of the lever 12 and the latter of which extends tl roughthe plate 10 and the top of the tank and is insulated therefrom. Fixedto the plate 10 and insulated therefrom and depending into the chamberof the tank 1 is a pipe 15, and fixed to the lower end of said pipe is aU-shaped yoke 16. This yoke carries a thermostat 17 of any suitableform, and connected to this thermostat is a rod 18 which extends upthrough the pipe 15 and through the plate 10, and is connected to, butinsulated from, the lever 12. This thermostat preferably is at all timesimmersed in the fluid contained in the tank 1 so as to be responsive tochanges of temperature of said fluid.

The construction and operation of the form of thermostat shown is wellunderstood and may be varied, and it is sullicient to say that, if thetemperature in the tank 1 rises, the thermostat will be expanded,causing an upward movement of the rod 18 and a corresponding upwardmovement of the lever 12. If the temperature of the fluid in the tank 1lowers, the thermostat 17 will gradually contract, exerting a downwardpull on the rod 18 and a consequent downward movement of the lever 12.lhe contacts 1S and 11 will thus be brought together when thetemperature of the fluid in the tank lowers and forced apart as itrises.

A relay is carried by the casing of the device consisting of a solenoid19 mounted in a frame 20, with which solenoid cooperatcs an armature 21hinged at one end to the frame 20 and normally held out of contact withthe solenoid by a flat spring 22, as

shown in Fig. 6. Projecting from the free end of the armature 21 is arod 23, preferably formed of brass, whose free end is curved downwardlyand carries the contact point 2%, preferably of platinum.

lVhen the temperature of the fluid in the tank 1 falls below a givenpoint, the thermostat operates as hereinbefore described to bring thecontact points 13 and 1% together and to complete a circuit from one ofthe wires 9, through the wire 25, connecting with the contact point 1-1,the lever 12, the wire 26 through the solenoid 19 and through saidsolenoid through the wire 16 to the other of said wires 9, therebyforming a complete circuit.

One of the ciu'rent-conducting wires 9 is connected with the heatingcoils and from said heating coils is a lead wire 27 which connects withthe armature 21. The other of said conducting wires 9 connects with abinding post 28 having the contact point 29 alined with the contactpoint 2% carried by the rod lVhen the solenoid is energized,

the armature 21 is attracted toward it, and

when pulled toward the solenoid, a contact is made between the contactpoints 21 and 29 and a circuit is completed from one of the wires 9,through the heating coils 6, the lead wire 27, the armature 21, the rod23 to the other of said wires 9 and the coils 6 are thus energized andthe heat given elf therefrom causes the temperature of the oil in thetank1 to rise. lVhen the temperature has risen to the desired point, thethermostat 17 operates through the push of the rod 18 to break thecontact between the points 13 and 11-. The solenoid 19 is thusdeenergized and the spring 22 (see Fig. 4) operates to lift the armature21 and break the contact between the contacts 2% and 29. The current isthus cut off from the heating coils until the temperature of the fluidin the tank 1 falls and the contacts are made as herebefore described.It is thus clear that the temperature of said fluid is main tained atsubstantially a uniform degree and the mechanism may be so constructedas to be very sensitive as to changes in temperature. In fact, a changeof one-hundredth part of a degreein temperature will ordinarily besufficient to make or break the contact between the points 13 and 1 1,which vill result, in the manner herebefore set forth, in energizing theheating coils, or cutting off the contact therefrom and lowering thetemperature of said fluid in the tank 1.

1n order to keep the temperature of the entire body of fluid in the tank1 uniform throughout, it is necessary to keep said fluid in motion sothat it will all come in contact with the heating coils. For thispurpose I have provided a motor 30 which is fixed to one side of thedevice and which has a tlexible shaft 31 extending through the wall ofthe tank 1 and the inner end of this shaft carries a propelling orimpeller wheel 32 having inclined vanes. This wheel 32 is immersed inthe liquid in the tank and as it rotates creates a current therein whichkeeps the fluid constantly circulating around the heating coils.

One of the connecting wires 9 is connected with the motor through theconducting wire 33, and leading from the motor is a conducting wire 34which connects with the lead wire 27, and when a circuit is completedthrough the heating coils, simultaneously and by this same means acurrent is completed through the motor, setting it in motion. The twocircuits are broken at the same time, so that the motor is in operationonly when the heating coils are energized. Switches 35 and 36 areprovided for the purpose of manually breaking the circuit through themotor and the heating coils, respectively.

\Vhen the device is in use, it is provided with an electric signal bell37 of the usual and well known construction. The battery 38 is providedfor operating the bell and two current-conducting wires 39 and 40 areconnected with the battery, the form r of which is connected with thebell mechanism and also with the plate 10 and the latter of whichcarries a contact point 41 alined above the contact point 13. WVhen thefluid in the tank 1 rises above its normal temperature, the thermostat17 operates through the rod 18 to lift the lever 12, causing contactbetween the points 13 and 41 and a circuit is completed from the battery38 through the bell mechanism, causing the bell to ring. \Varning isthus given that the heating fluid is becoming too hot.

The arrangement just described is desirable when a temperature of aboutone hundred degrees F. is to be employed in testing the viscosity of theliquids, and where alternating current is not available.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of the device wherein the wiringfor an alternating current is employed for heating the heating coils 6,and wherein the directcurrent-conducting wires are indicated by thenumerals 7 7, which lead from suitable batteries (not shown), and areconnected to the binding posts 8", 8, from which lead thecurrent-conducting wires 9, 9. The alternating current wires areindicated by the numerals 42, 42, connected to the binding posts 43, 43,from which lead the currentconducting wires 44, 44. One of the wires 44is connected with the heating coils 6 and from the heating coils leadsthe conducting wire 27, which is connected to the armature 21, operatingin connection with the solenoid 19, in the same manner as the armature21, heretofore described. The armato the other of said wires 9.

ture 21 has a rod 23 extending from its free end, said rod having thecontact point 24 arranged to make a contact with the contact point 29with which the other of said conducting wires 44 is connected, and thusa circuit is completed through the heating coils when the solenoid 19 isenergized.

he solenoid 19 is energized when the heat ing fluid falls below itsnormal temperature and contact is made between the points 13 and 14,through the conducting wires 9, 9, as hereinbefore described.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 11 an additional relay is providedconsisting of the solenoid 45 and the armature 46, the free end of saidarmature having a rod 47 eX- tendiug therefrom carrying the contactpoints 48 and 49, the latter of which is insulated from the rod 47 saidcontact points being arranged to contact respectively with the contactpoints 50 and 51, connected with one of the wires 9'. In this form ofthe device, shown in Fig. 11, a complete circuit is at all times formedthrough the motor 30 by means of the conducting wires 9, 9 and theconducting wire 52, one of said wires 9 leading directly to said motorand the other being connected with the motor through said wire 52. Thiscircuit causes the motor to run at low speed at all times. When acontact is made between the points 13 and 14 when the temperature of theoil in the tank falls, the solenoid 45 is energized by reason of acircuit being completed from one of said wires 9 through said solenoidThis circuit is completed from one of the wires 9, through the wire 54,the lever 12 and the wires 55 and 56 to the other wire 9, and when saidsolenoid 45 is energized the armature 46 is attracted toward the same,causing the points 48 and 50 and the points 49 and 51, respectively, tocontact, and an additional circuit is completed through one of the wires9 through the wire 57, connected with the contact point 49 and. throughthe motor 30 to the other of said wires 9, and an additional current isthus sent through the motor 30 causing it to run at high speed when thepoints 13 and 14 are in contact and the heating coils energized. At thesame time the relay 45 is energized and contact is made at the contacts48, 50, current passes to the solenoid 19, by one of the wires 9, by way01 the armature 46, bar 47, contacts 48, 50, wire 50, through thesolenoid 19, and the other wire 9. This serves to attract the armature21, closing the heater circuit at contacts 24, 29, and causingalternatin g current to heat the heaters to raise the temperature of theoil in the tank.

I prefer to employ the arrangement shown in Fig. 11 wherever alternatingcurrent is available, and whenever the temperature is to be kept high,say 210 F., under which latter condition alternating current isdesirable over direct current, as there is little or no arcing ofalternating currents at the contaets, while the necessary amount ofdirect current to maintain the desired temperature results in arcing atthe contacts.

In Fig. 12 I have shown another arrangement of circuits where onlyalternating current is available, and in which the thermostat controlledcircuit for operating the switch to throw the alternating current ontothe heaters may be furnished from storage or dry batteries. In thisarrangement the connections from the alternating source are shown at 60,(30, leading to posts ()1, GP, a wire 62 connecting the post 61 with aresistance switch 63, and the motor 30, while the post 61 is connectedto the other side of the motor by a wire 62, so that the motor may berun at low speed whenever the switch 63 is on. The thermostat controlledswitch 12 is in a circuit including wires G l, 64, connectedrespectively to binding posts 65, 65 connected to suitable storage ordry batteries (not shown), said circuit also including the magnet 19 foroperating the armature 21 and bar 23, connected onto the wire 62 at 62is one end of the coil of the heater 6, the opposite end of which isconnected at 66, to a wire 67, connected to one side of the motor 30 andto the armature 23 The bar 23 makes and breaks contact at the contacts29, QI the former being connected to a wire 68 leading to the bindingpost 61 Under normal conditions the motor is run at low speed byalternating current on the circuit 62, 62", and the circuit for theheater is open at the contacts 29, 24: 1 hen the circuit for the magnet19 is closed at the contacts 13, ll, upon a drop in temperature, thearmature 23* is operated by the magnet 19 to close the heater circuit atthe contacts 29, 2%, so that alternating current heats the heaters overthe circuit. including part of the wire 62, part of the wire ($6. thearmature 21", bar 23, contacts 29, 2%, and wire 68. At the same timeadditional current is placed on the motor 30 by way or". the wires (32.OT, and armature 21 bar 23, contacts 2 2F, and wire 68. The system mayinclude an alarm circuit including a bell (39, connected to the wire (Hby a wire T0 and to the contact -l-1 by the wire 7, the bar 12, servingto close a circuit through the bell, over the wire 6%, said bar 12,contact 4d, wires 71, TO, and 6% whenever the heating fluid isexcessively heated.

lVhile I have shown several different systems for controlling the motorand heating means. I desire it understood that I do not desire to belimited thereto as other systems may be employed without departing fromthe spirit and scope of my invention.

lVhile I have shown only two forms of this device, it is apparent thatmechanical variations may be made therein without departing from theprinciple of the invention, and it is further obvious that a device ofsubstantially the same construction may be used for different purposesthan that set out in the foregoing specification whenever it may bedesired to maintain a constant temperature and I hereby reserve theright to make mechanical changes in the construction thereof and adaptthe device to various uses for which it may be employed, so long as I donot depart from the principle there of, as set forth in the appendedclaims.

-What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the IinitedStates is:

1. In a viscoscometer, in combination, a horizontally disposed chamberadapted to contain a fluid, a plurality of separate receptacles in thechamber and discharging from the bottom of the chamber, heating means inthe chamber arranged to be in direct contact with the fluid therein,electrically operated means for circulating the fluid in contact withsaid coils and the receptacles, and thermostatically controlled meansfor energizing said heating means and electrically operated means.

2. In a viscoscometer, in combination, a chamber, plurality ofreceptacles in the chamber, each receptacle having an opening, anelectric heater in the chamber for heating said medium, an electricmotor driven means for causing circulation of a heat'ng medium in thechamber, and means controlled by the temperature of said medium forenergizing said heater and motor for the circulating means.

8. In a viscoscometer, in combination, a chamber, a plurality ofreceptacles in the chamber, each receptacle having an openin an electricheater in the chamber for heating said medium, an electric motor drivenmeans for causing circulation of a heating medium in the chamber, andmeans con trolled by the temperature of said medium for simultaneouslyenergizing said heater and motor for the circulating means.

4-. In a viscoscometer. in combination. a

chamber, a plurality of receptacles in the chamber, means for heating amedium in the chamber, motor driven means for causing circulation of themedium in the chamber, electrical means for rendering said heating meansand motor for the last-named means effective, circuits for saidelectrical means. and thermostatically operated means for en ergizingsaid circuits.

In a viscoscometer, in combination, a chamber adapted to contain aliquid, a plurality of liquid receiving receptacles in the chamber,electric means for heating a liquid circulatory medium in said chamber,an impeller wheel for causing circulation of said medium, a motor fordriving said impeller wheel, and thermostatically controlled meansresponsive to changes of temperature of said liquid medium forenergizing said electric heating means.

6. In a viscoscometer, in combination, a fluid chamber, an electricalheating element arranged therein, current conductors leading from asource of electrical supply and forming a circuit through said element,a means for making and breaking the circuit through said conductors, amechanism responsive to changes of temperature in the fluid in saidchamber and controlling the operation of said means, a fluid agitator inthe chamber, an electrical motor operatively connected with saidagitator and current conductors through which an electrical circuit iscompleted through said motor, said mechanism being arranged to completeor break the circuit through said motor simultaneously With thecompletion or breaking thereof through the heating element.

7. In a viscoscometer, in combination, a fluid chamber, a plurality oftubes extending through said chamber and forming independent fluidcontainers, each tube having a discharge orifice, an electrical heatingelement arranged in the chamber, current conductors leading from asource of electrical supply and forming a circuit through said element,a means for making and breaking the circuit through said conductors, amechanism responsive to changes of temperature of the fluid in thereceptacle and controlling the operation of said means, a fluid agitatorin the receptacle, a motor operatively connected with the said agitator,and current conductors through Which an electrical circuit is completedthrough said motor, said mechanism being arranged to complete or breakthe circuit through said motor simultaneously with the completion orbreaking thereof through the heating element.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES O. LORENZ.

Witnesses:

L. JOHNSON, R. D. CUNNINGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0."

